Which Tyres?

I don't know about consensus but I raced Pro 4 Endurance 28mm for one of the TCRs and finished without a flat. ~4000km with some gravel and other random shit. They had life left in them but I think I've killed them off now. GP 4000 were good. I think 5000s are too thin but I need to try them out to see. Unlike the GP4000s which came up 32mm, the Pro4 are actually 28mm so depending on your frame you might want to look at 32mm options too. I used a GP Urban 35mm on the rear during TIBR (came up 34mm) and that worked pretty well. Flatted once hitting a rock at speed but other than that pretty fine.

Pro 4 Endurance are great but impossible to find these days in 28mm. The newer Power Endurance is also out of stock everywhere. The Power Road review well though.

Yeah, I bought them all :)

I've not tried any of the Power tyres. I was put off them for some reason early on and I've never looked at them again. I think the earlier batches were really slow or something.

I'm not having much luck with tyres today...
https://www.lfgss.com/comments/16092032/

I understand I should probably get some callipers but don’t have any just now.. looking to fit the biggest tyres I can on this bike. These are 25c vittoria rubino pro 3s. I was hoping to fit 28s but just not sure if they’ll clear it and can’t afford to buy a pair that end up not fitting.

If not 28s is there a decent 26c I can buy? Or are there 25s that always come up wider than measurements? I’ve read that schwalbe are generally a bit wider than their stated width. Any help would be appreciated!

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It's not looking super-likely though if you've got skinny rims, the 28s will tend to stay a bit skinnier, obvs so it might fit with enough room (especially if you're only on road where mud isn't much of an issue). But with older steel frames you'd tend to get a bit of flex so you might find if they're too close they'll rub but only occasionally. If you're near west london I have a fucked 28mm Pro4 Endurance (which are actually true to size unlike GP4000 which are more like 31-32mm) you can try for size.

Turbo Cotton come in 26 but I think the carcass is the same as the smaller size and just the tread rubber is wider. Also expensive and race tyres so not so durable.

Thanks very much for the offer but up in Orkney unfortunately.. do you know if there’s a tyre that generally comes up big? Lots of differing suggestions online..

Yeah rural roads up here so need something pretty tough too..

GP4000 did but they're not likely in stock any more.
GP Urban 35mm comes out more like 34mm but that's no use.
It really depends on your rims anyway. I never measured them but I wonder if GP4000 25 came up big like the 28s? You might find some of those kicking around. Or 4Seasons.

Oh, Pro Optimum (Front) were 25 but came up 27 by design. Problem is I bought all of them for racing on about 10 years ago and they don't make them now. I think I have a new one still but it's a fair bit of hassle just to find out a tyre doesn't fit.

That was one of the recommendations I’d come across online, will have a look into them, thanks!

These bad boys served me well in 24hr TTs for years. Wish they still made them. They're 700x25 but come up 27 on skinny rims (for the front, it was specifically wider for extra grip I think).

Your experience with the Pro 4 Endurance matches mine - thousands of kms over roads, shit roads, gravel and off road and only got punctures once they reached the end of their life, when I got about 3 punctures in a month which seemed wild by that point (but isn't actually crazy for many tires...!).

Can't say I remember how they 'felt' in term of give and comfort and I'm sure it'll be hard to better the Veloflex I have on now but will be ok to trade that off somewhat to forget about flats. Plus a little more rattling will at least mean I won't forever think I have a slow puncture as I do now 😂

Interesting to hear you were put off by the Powers, as I've been thinking about it, as well as the P Zero velo in 28mm (and tan) - sadly though both are unavailable anywhere so no chance of taking the plunge at the moment...

I won't forever think I have a slow puncture as I do now

Every gravel / mtb ride.

"Did I flat?! Oh nope, ok." x 1000

Doesn't help that I've had an actually leaky tube and one slow puncture since putting them on which is proving a complete mindf**k...!

Are you practising for tubeless by putting pinholes in your tubes and reinflating every second day? :)

No but maybe I'm now ready for latex tubes?! 🤔

When I bought the grrl's road bike, we thought she had a leak in her rear tyre.

Turns out the bloke I'd bought it off left latex tubes in it :)

Looking for a set of well rounded 26" 1.75-2.00 tires. Nice rolling while still having a trusty puncture protection. Are there any go-to ones?

My gf has a set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus Touring at the moment, while rolling surprisingly ok the weight of almost 1kg each is noticeable..

Continental contact Urban are good imo

Thanks!
Continental do have some interesting offerings. The Contact Speed seems also well regarded. Cheap and cheerful.
Seeing Schwalbe Kojak is as well offered in 26". Did a season of winter commuting some years ago on the 28" ones (quite surprisingly) without punctures.

Cosign on Continental contact urban.

I have a pair of Schwalbe kojaks I would let go, I haven’t used them, bought them second hand off here for £20. Look pretty unused.

Can’t quite remember width but let me know if of interest!

Thanks! Im based a few country borders away from UK/London, if anyone else after them it seems a good deal.

What pressures are you running those at? Sidewall says min 58psi which seems high. 45 seems like plenty of support even for dirt.

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I ran them between 60psi and 45 most of the time.

I need to get another set as the Goodyear Eagles are not in the same league.

Anyone have any spare fast 28c tubeless tyres they'd sell?
I'm cheap